The Science behind Beauty (Day 2)

Buzzword 2: Micellar

We all know that oil and water do not mix. However hard you shake a bottle of water and oil together, they will separate back out into two distinct layers. This is why it is difficult to remove any dirt and makeup off your face with just plain ol’ water.

Micelles or micellar water products are trending in a big way in the beauty industry at the moment. Promoted as a way to efficiently cleanse your face and eyes without the need for rinsing, micelles are the solution to removing water-resistant makeup.

So what exactly are micelles?

A micelle is a spherical cluster of molecules with an oil loving centre and a water loving exterior. When applied to the skin, these micelles break open exposing their oily core and come into contact with oil-based makeup (winner!!). Once application pressure is removed, these micelles reform grabbing and subsequently removing makeup from your face, which all stays neatly inside the micelle. After they have reformed, only the external water side of the micelles is showing, making it easy to wipe off with a cotton pad or a quick splash of water.

Micellar water can be a very effective way to remove your makeup and cleanse your face all in one quick wipe. However, be wary of expensive brands that advertise the next new must have micellar cleansing product, as chances are the makeup remover/cleanser you already use contains micelles in some form, making it unnecessary for you to part with lots of your money for what is essentially a gimmick.

More importantly, even though products like face wipes and micellar water are a great way to remove makeup, especially after a long tiring day at work, nothing beats a proper cleanser/exfoliator to thoroughly clean your skin.

2 Comments

Fantastic now I know how micellar works. They are not my favourite I find them a fluff, but u know life happens and I have to reach for them every now and again.
Thank you for the wonderful breakdown👌 Just enough content as I get bored of very long articles 😄. X

Thank you for your comments. It is really nice to know that people are reading my posts and finding them helpful!
I feel exactly the same about micellar water. I prefer to use a full cleanser, but when I can’t quite bring myself to take the time to properly remove my makeup (happens more times than I care to admit), micellar water makes me feel like I have put a little bit of effort in. xx